Plasma etching apparatus

ABSTRACT

A plasma etching apparatus includes a process chamber, a susceptor, microwave permeable plate that is made of a dielectric material that allows microwaves to pass therethrough, a microwave supplying portion including a microwave generation apparatus that generates microwaves of a predetermined frequency, a gas supplying portion for supplying a process gas, an evacuation portion, a bias electric power supplying portion; and an alternating bias electric power control portion that controls the alternating bias electric power, wherein the alternating bias electric power control portion controls the alternating bias electric power so that supplying and disconnecting the alternating bias electric power to the susceptor are repeated to allow a ratio of a time period of supplying the alternating bias electric power with respect to a total time period of supplying the alternating bias electric power and disconnecting the alternating bias electric power to be 0.1 or more and 0.5 or less.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional patent application of, and claims thebenefit of and priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/128,951filed on Jun. 20, 2011, which is a National Stage application of PCTApplication No. PCT/JP2009/069218, filed Nov. 11, 2009, and claims thebenefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-291370,filed on Nov. 13, 2008, with the Japanese Patent Office, all of whichare hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a plasma etching method and a plasmaetching apparatus, and specifically to a plasma etching method and aplasma etching apparatus that are capable of realizing the same depthand profile plasma etching regardless of etching pattern densities.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, a design rule of a semiconductor device thatconstitutes a Large Scale Integrated (LSI) circuit has been increasinglyshrinking from a requirement for higher integration and higheroperational speed of the LSI. When a large number of semiconductordevices are formed in a chip, each of the semiconductor devices needs tobe electrically isolated so that the semiconductor devices do notadversely affect one another. As a device isolation technology forforming a device isolation structure, a Sallow Trench Isolation (STI)process has been known. In the STI process, a groove (trench) is formedby anisotropically etching an upper surface of a silicon substrate(semiconductor wafer); the groove is filled with an insulating materialsuch as silicon oxide; and the insulating material is planarized, sothat the semiconductor devices are isolated with the insulating materialso formed. The STI process is advantageous in that only a small area isneeded, which enables further miniaturization, compared to a LocalOxidation of Silicon (LOCOS) process.

Referring to FIG. 1, a trench forming step in the STI process isexplained. First, after a thin insulating film such as a silicon oxide(SiO₂) film or a silicon nitride (SiN) film is formed on a siliconsubstrate (a semiconductor wafer) 211, the insulating film is patternedby photolithography and etching, as shown in FIG. 1( a), therebyobtaining an etching mask 212 to be used for etching the semiconductorwafer 211. Next, the semiconductor wafer 211 is etched using the etchingmask 212, as shown in FIG. 1( b), thereby forming a shallow trench.

In this etching process, generally, an etching gas is activated byplasma, and the semiconductor wafer 211 on which the etching mask 212 isformed is exposed to the activated etching gas, so that a predeterminedpattern is formed.

While there are an Electron Cyclotron Resonance method and a parallelplate method as a method for generating plasma, a microwave plasmaapparatus employing a microwave plasma method that uses microwaves togenerate high density plasma is widely used because plasma can be stablygenerated even in a relatively low pressure vacuum environment of 0.1mTorr (13.3 mPa) to several tens mTorr (several Pa) by the microwaveplasma method. Specifically, a plasma etching apparatus employing aRadial Line Slot Antenna (RLSA) microwave plasma method is used, becausethe electron temperature is low despite the high plasma density andplasma density uniformity being excellent, so that uniform etching isrealized while reducing damage on the substrate to be etched (See PatentDocument 1, for example).

In this case, when high frequency electric power having a radiofrequency (RF) is applied to a susceptor on which the semiconductorwafer is placed as alternating bias electric power, if needed, the ionsgenerated by the plasma can be pulled toward the upper surface of thesemiconductor wafer, thereby efficiently performing the etching (SeePatent Document 2, for example).

Patent Document 1: International Publication Pamphlet No. 06/064898.

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No.2006-156675.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, there is a following problem when forming the trench in thesemiconductor wafer using the plasma etching method and the plasmaetching apparatus. On the semiconductor wafer, there are a “highdensity” area where narrow grooves (trenches) are formed in a higherconcentration (See a portion D shown in FIG. 1( a), for example) and a“low density” area where wide grooves (trenches) are formed in a lowerconcentration (See a portion I shown in FIG. 1( a), for example). Thereis a problem in that etching profiles between the high density area andthe low density area are different (or profile differences due topattern densities).

Especially, there is tendency that a bottom surface of the groove(trench) is not flat so that the center part of the bottom is raisedcompared to edge parts of the bottom (See “Ts” shown in FIG. 1( b)),thereby leaving a convex bottom surface (or sub-trench shape). Suchtendency is more significant in the area having a low pattern density.

As a main cause for such a sub-trench shape, adsorption of by-productsof etching reaction can be pointed out. In order to avoid suchadsorption, an etching gas flow rate and an evacuation rate of a processchamber need to be increased, and this may cause another problem.

Moreover, a so-called side etching is caused where a trench width of thegroove (trench) becomes wider toward an upper edge of the trench in arelatively low pressure range of several 10 mTorr or less, and thusthere is a problem in terms of profile controllability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides aplasma etching method and a plasma etching apparatus that are capable ofyielding the same depth and profile in plasma etching regardless ofpattern densities, without increasing an etching gas flow rate and anevacuation rate of a process chamber.

Means of Solving the Problems

A first aspect of the present invention provides a plasma etching methodusing a plasma etching apparatus including a process chamber whoseinside is evacuatable to vacuum and that has an openable ceilingportion; a susceptor on which an object to be processed is placed, thesusceptor being provided in the process chamber; a microwave permeableplate that is made of a dielectric material that allows microwaves topass therethrough and is attached to an opening of the ceiling portionin an air-tight manner; a microwave supplying portion including amicrowave generation apparatus that generates microwaves of apredetermined frequency, a mode converter that is connected to themicrowave generation apparatus via a rectangular waveguide pipe and amatching circuit and converts an oscillation mode of the generatedmicrowaves into a predetermined mode, a coaxial waveguide pipe thatallows the microwaves having the predetermined mode to propagatetherein, an electrically conductive chassis that is connected to anouter electrical conductive body of the coaxial waveguide pipe, a slotplate that is made of a conductive material and has plural throughholes, wherein the slot plate is arranged in an upper surface of themicrowave permeable plate and a center electrically conductive materialis connected to a center portion of the slot plate, and a dielectricplate that is made of a dielectric material and arranged between theslot plate and the chassis; a gas supplying portion that supplies aprocess gas to the process chamber; an evacuation portion that maintainsthe inside of the process chamber at a predetermined pressure; a biaselectric power supplying portion that supplies alternating bias electricpower to the susceptor; and an alternating bias electric power controlportion that controls the alternating bias electric power. The plasmaetching method comprises causing the alternating bias electric powercontrol portion to control the alternating bias electric power so thatsupplying and disconnecting the alternating bias electric power to thesusceptor are alternately repeated to allow a ratio of a time period ofsupplying the alternating bias electric power with respect to a totaltime period of supplying the alternating bias electric power anddisconnecting the alternating bias electric power to be 0.1 or more and0.5 or less.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a plasma etchingapparatus comprising a process chamber whose inside is evacuatable tovacuum and that has an openable ceiling portion; a susceptor on which anobject to be processed is placed, the susceptor being provided in theprocess chamber; a microwave permeable plate that is made of adielectric material that allows microwaves to pass therethrough and isattached to an opening of the ceiling portion in an air-tight manner; amicrowave supplying portion including a microwave generation apparatusthat generates microwaves of a predetermined frequency, a mode converterthat is connected to the microwave generation apparatus via arectangular waveguide pipe and a matching circuit and converts anoscillation mode of the generated microwaves into a predetermined mode,a coaxial waveguide pipe that allows the microwaves having thepredetermined mode to propagate therein, an electrically conductivechassis that is connected to an outer electrical conductive body of thecoaxial waveguide pipe, a slot plate that is made of a conductivematerial and has plural through holes, wherein the slot plate isarranged in an upper surface of the microwave permeable plate and acenter electrically conductive material is connected to a center portionof the slot plate, and a dielectric plate that is made of a dielectricmaterial and arranged between the slot plate and the chassis; a gassupplying portion that supplies a process gas to the process chamber; anevacuation portion that maintains the inside of the process chamber at apredetermined pressure; a bias electric power supplying portion thatsupplies alternating bias electric power to the susceptor; and analternating bias electric power control portion that controls thealternating bias electric power. The alternating bias electric powercontrol portion controls the alternating bias electric power so thatsupplying and disconnecting the alternating bias electric power to thesusceptor are repeated to allow a ratio of a time period of supplyingthe alternating bias electric power with respect to a total time periodof supplying the alternating bias electric power and disconnecting thealternating bias electric power to be 0.1 or more and 0.5 or less.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a plasma etching methodusing a plasma etching apparatus including a process chamber whoseinside is evacuatable to vacuum and that has an openable ceilingportion; a susceptor on which an object to be processed is placed, thesusceptor being provided in the process chamber; a microwave permeableplate that is made of a dielectric material that allows microwaves topass therethrough and is attached to an opening of the ceiling portionin an air-tight manner; a microwave supplying portion including amicrowave generation apparatus that generates microwaves of apredetermined frequency, a mode converter that is connected to themicrowave generation apparatus via a rectangular waveguide pipe and amatching circuit and converts an oscillation mode of the generatedmicrowaves into a predetermined mode, a coaxial waveguide pipe thatallows the microwaves having the predetermined mode to propagatetherein, an electrically conductive chassis that is connected to anouter electrical conductive body of the coaxial waveguide pipe, a slotplate that is made of a conductive material and has plural throughholes, wherein the slot plate is arranged in an upper surface of themicrowave permeable plate and a center electrically conductive materialis connected to a center portion of the slot plate, and a dielectricplate that is made of a dielectric material and arranged between theslot plate and the chassis; a gas supplying portion that supplies aprocess gas to the process chamber; an evacuation portion that maintainsthe inside of the process chamber at a predetermined pressure; a biaselectric power supplying portion that supplies an alternating biaselectric power to the susceptor; alternating bias electric power controlportion that controls the alternating bias electric power. The plasmaetching method comprises causing the alternating bias electric powercontrol portion to control the alternating bias electric power so that atime period during which the alternating bias electric power is suppliedat a first electric power and a time period during which the alternatingbias electric power is supplied at a second electric power that is lessthan the first electric power are alternately repeated to allow a ratioof the time period during which the alternating bias electric power issupplied at a first electric power with respect to a total of the timeperiod during which the alternating bias electric power is supplied atthe first electric power and the time period during which thealternating bias electric power is supplied at the second electric powerto be 0.1 or more and 0.5 or less.

A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a plasma etchingmethod using a plasma etching apparatus including a process chamberwhose inside is evacuatable to vacuum and that has an openable ceilingportion; a susceptor on which an object to be processed is placed, thesusceptor being provided in the process chamber; a microwave permeableplate that is made of a dielectric material that allows microwaves topass therethrough and is attached to an opening of the ceiling portionin an air-tight manner; a microwave supplying portion including amicrowave generation apparatus that generates microwaves of apredetermined frequency, a mode converter that is connected to themicrowave generation apparatus via a rectangular waveguide pipe and amatching circuit and converts an oscillation mode of the generatedmicrowaves into a predetermined mode, a coaxial waveguide pipe thatallows the microwaves having the predetermined mode to propagatetherein, an electrically conductive chassis that is connected to anouter electrical conductive body of the coaxial waveguide pipe, a slotplate that is made of a conductive material and has plural throughholes, wherein the slot plate is arranged in an upper surface of themicrowave permeable plate and a center electrically conductive materialis connected to a center portion of the slot plate, and a dielectricplate that is made of a dielectric material and arranged between theslot plate and the chassis; a gas supplying portion that supplies aprocess gas to the process chamber; an evacuation portion that maintainsthe inside of the process chamber at a predetermined pressure; a biaselectric power supplying portion that supplies an alternating biaselectric power to the susceptor; and an alternating bias electric powercontrol portion that controls the alternating bias electric power. Theplasma etching method comprises causing the alternating bias electricpower control portion to control the alternating bias electric power sothat a time period during which the alternating bias electric power issupplied at a first electric power and a time period during which thealternating bias electric power is supplied at a second electric powerthat is less than the first electric power are alternately repeated toallow a ratio of the time period during which the alternating biaselectric power is supplied at a first electric power with respect to atotal of the time period during which the alternating bias electricpower is supplied at the first electric power and the time period duringwhich the alternating bias electric power is supplied at the secondelectric power to be 0.1 or more and 0.5 or less.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates cross sections of a substrate beforeand after an etching process in a conventional etching method.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating an exampleof a plasma etching apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a slot plate of the plasma etchingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is an explanatory view for explaining a plasma etching methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B schematically illustrates advantages of the plasma etchingmethod according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view for explaining the plasma etching methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating crosssections of a substrate before and after an etching process.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view for explaining the plasma etching methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating aportion to be evaluated.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view for explaining the plasma etching methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, which illustratescross-sectional images of a wafer after the etching process.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory view for explaining the plasma etching methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a graph(part 1) illustrating a duty ratio dependence of trench shapes after theetching process.

FIG. 8B is an explanatory view for explaining the plasma etching methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a graph(part 2) illustrating a duty ratio dependence of trench shapes after theetching process.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view for explaining the plasma etching methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a graphillustrating a duty ratio dependence of an etching rate ratio.

FIG. 10A is an explanatory view for explaining the plasma etching methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a graph(part 1) illustrating a repetition frequency dependence of trench shapesafter the etching process.

FIG. 10B is an explanatory view for explaining the plasma etching methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a graph(part 1) illustrating a repetition frequency dependence of trench shapesafter the etching process.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view for explaining the plasma etching methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a graph(part 1) illustrating a pressure dependence of trench shapes after theetching process.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view for explaining the plasma etching methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a graph(part 1) illustrating a pressure dependence of side etch width after theetching process.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view for explaining the plasma etching methodaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a graph(part 1) illustrating a gas flow rate dependence of trench shapes afterthe etching process.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

According to embodiments of the present invention, there are provided aplasma etching method and a plasma etching apparatus that are capable ofyielding the same depth and profile in plasma etching regardless ofpattern densities, without increasing an etching gas flow rate and anevacuation rate of a process chamber.

Non-limiting, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings,the same or corresponding reference symbols are given to the same orcorresponding members or components. It is to be noted that the drawingsare illustrative of the invention, and there is no intention to indicatescale or relative proportions among the members or components, orbetween thicknesses of various layers. Therefore, the specific thicknessor size should be determined by a person having ordinary skill in theart in view of the following non-limiting embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view that schematically illustrates a plasmaetching apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a planview illustrating a slot plate to be used in the plasma etchingapparatus according to this embodiment.

A microwave plasma processing apparatus 100 according to this embodimentis configured as a Radial Line Slot Antenna microwave plasma etchingapparatus where high density microwave plasma having a low electrontemperature can be generated by introducing microwaves into a processchamber using a slotted plate having plural slots, specifically a RLSAas a planar antenna.

The plasma etching apparatus 100 is provided with a process chamber 101and a susceptor 105, a microwave permeable plate 28, a microwavesupplying portion, a gas supplying portion, an evacuation apparatus 24,a bias electric power supplying portion, and a bias electric powercontrolling portion 113 d. The microwave supplying portion includes amicrowave generator 39, a mode converter 40, a coaxial waveguide pipe 37a, a shield lid body 34, a slot plate 31, and a wavelength shorteningmember 33. The gas supplying portion includes a first gas supplyingportion 116, and a second gas supplying portion 122. The bias electricpower supplying portion includes an alternating current power supplier113 b.

The process chamber 101, of which a side wall and a bottom portion areconfigured of an electrically conductive material such as aluminum (Al),has a shape of a cylinder. The process chamber 101 is electricallygrounded. Incidentally, a shape of the process chamber 101 may be arectangular (square-like) cylinder rather than a cylinder.

Inside the process chamber 101, the susceptor 105 having a shape of acircular plate, on which a semiconductor wafer (wafer W, hereinafter) asan object to be processed is placed, is provided. The susceptor 105includes a pedestal having a convex circular plate shape, of which anupper center portion protrudes in a convex shape, and an electrostaticchuck 111 that has substantially the same shape as the wafer Wand isprovided on the pedestal. The electrostatic chuck 111 is configured ofinsulating materials with an electrode 112 interposed therebetween, andelectrostatically holds the wafer W by Coulomb force by supplying directcurrent electric power to the electrode 112 from a direct electric powersupplier 113 a. In addition, the alternating current power supplier 113b serving as an alternating current bias electric power supplyingportion is connected to the susceptor 105 via a capacitor 113 c. Afrequency of the alternating current bias electric power supplied by thealternating current power supplier 113 b is mainly 13.56 MHz, but may be800 kHz or 2 MHz.

In addition, a baffle plate 8 having plural evacuation holes 8 a isprovided around the susceptor 105 in order to evacuate the processchamber 101. Below the baffle plate 8, an evacuation space 19 is formedin order to surround the susceptor 105, and the evacuation space is ingaseous communication with the evacuation apparatus 24 via an evacuationpipe 23, thereby uniformly evacuating the process chamber 101.

In addition, a temperature controlling medium chamber (not shown) isprovided inside the susceptor 105. By circulating a temperaturecontrolling medium in the temperature controlling medium chamber, thesusceptor 105 can be adjusted at a predetermined temperature.Specifically, a gas passage 114 for supplying a heat conducting medium,for example, helium (He) gas at a predetermined pressure to a backsurface of the wafer W is formed in an insulating plate 103, thesusceptor 105, and the electrostatic chuck 111. Heat is transferredbetween the susceptor 105 and the wafer W by the heat conducting medium,thereby maintaining the wafer W at a predetermined temperature.

A ring-shaped focus ring 115 is provided on an upper circumferentialportion of the susceptor 105 in order to surround the wafer W placed onthe electrostatic chuck 111. The focus ring 115 is formed of aninsulating material such as a ceramic material or quartz, and is capableof improving etching uniformity.

A resistive thermal heater serving as a heating portion is providedinside the susceptor 105, so that the wafer W is heated as appropriate.

A gas introducing member 15 having a ring shape is provided in the sidewall of the process chamber 101, and the first gas supplying portion 116is connected to the gas introducing member 15. Incidentally, the gasintroducing member 15 may have a showerhead shape rather than the ringshape. The first gas supplying portion 116 includes a gas supplyingsource for supplying a gas depending on a process. A kind of the gas isnot limited. In this embodiment, there are an Ar gas supplying source117 and an HBr gas supplying source 118. Corresponding gases reach thegas introducing member 15 via corresponding gas lines 20 and areintroduced in the process chamber 101 from the gas introducing member15. Incidentally, each of the gas lines 20 is provided with amass flowcontroller 21 and open/close valves 22 before and after the mass flowcontroller 21.

The evacuation pipe 23 is connected to the evacuation space 19 and tothe evacuation apparatus 24 that includes a high speed vacuum pump and apressure controlling valve (not shown) serving as an evacuation portionand a pressure controlling portion, respectively.

There are provided a transfer opening 25 through which the wafer W and adummy wafer Wd are transferred between a transfer chamber (not shown)provided adjacent to the plasma etching apparatus 100, and a gate valve26 that opens or closes the transfer opening 25, on the side wall of theprocess chamber 101.

The process chamber 101 has an opening open upward, and a ring-shapedsupporting portion 27 is provided along the circumference of the opening25. The microwave permeable plate 28, which may be made of a dielectricmaterial such as quartz, Al₂O₃, and AlN, is attached in an air-tightmanner to the supporting portion 27. With this, the process chamber 101is maintained in an air-tight manner. In addition, the supportingportion 27 is made of, for example, aluminum alloy or stainless steel.

The slot plate 31 having a shape of a circular plate is provided on anupper surface of the microwave permeable plate 28. Incidentally, theslot plate 31 may have a shape of a rectangular plate (square plate).The slot plate 31 is attached to the process chamber 101 in such amanner that a circumferential portion of the slot plate 31 is supportedby an upper circumference of the process chamber 101. The slot plate 31is made of, for example, a copper plate, a nickel plate, or an aluminumplate, and an upper surface of the slot plate 31 is plated with, forexample, silver or gold. In addition, plural microwave emitting holes 32and a through-hole 32 a are formed in the slot plate 31. Each of themicrowave emitting holes 32 has a shape of a longwise groove (slot) andis arranged to be in a T-shape along with an adjacent one of themicrowave emitting holes 32. These plural microwave emitting holes 32are arranged in concentric circles. In addition, the microwave emittingholes 32 may be arranged, for example, in a spiral or a radial manner,or along another shape such as a circle, an arc, or the like. On theother hand, the through-hole 32 a is formed substantially in the centerportion of the slot plate 31, in order to constitute a gas passage 68that extends from a gas introducing inlet 69 (described later) to anupper space of the wafer W in the process chamber 101.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the mode converter is connected to themicrowave generator 39 that generates microwaves having a predeterminedfrequency via a rectangular waveguide pipe 37 b and a matching circuit38. The mode converter 40 converts an oscillation mode of the microwavesgenerated by the microwave generator 39 into a predetermined oscillationmode. The coaxial waveguide pipe 37 a allows the microwaves having thepredetermined oscillation mode to propagate therethrough. The shield lidbody 34 serving as a chassis is made of an electrically conductivematerial, and is connected to an outer electrically conductive member 37c of the coaxial waveguide pipe 37 a. In addition, a center electricallyconductive member 41 is connected to the center portion of the slotplate 31.

The wavelength shortening member 33 that serves as a dielectric plateand has a dielectric constant greater than a vacuum dielectric constantis provided on an upper surface of the slot plate 31. The wavelengthshortening member 33 has a function of shortening a wavelength of themicrowaves. Note that the wavelength of the microwaves is longer invacuum. Incidentally, the slot plate 31 may contact the microwavepermeable plate 28, and the wavelength shortening member 33 may contactthe slot plate 31. The shield lid body 34, which is made of, forexample, an electrically conductive material such as metal includingaluminum, stainless steel, or the like is provided in order to surroundthe slot plate 31 and the wavelength shortening member 33 on the uppersurface of the process chamber 101. Namely, the wavelength shorteningmember 33 is arranged between the slot plate 31 and the shield lid body34. The shield lid body 34 and the upper surface of the process chamber101 are sealed by a sealing member 35. Plural cooling water paths 34 aare formed in the shield lid body 34. By flowing cooling water throughthe cooling water paths 34 a, the slot plate 31, the microwave permeableplate 28, the wavelength shortening member 33, and the shield lid body34 can be cooled. Incidentally the shield lid body 34 is electricallygrounded.

An opening 36 is formed in a center portion of the shield lid body 34.The waveguide pipe 37 is connected to the opening 36. As explainedbefore, the microwave generator 39 is connected to the edge portion ofthe waveguide pipe 37. With this, the microwaves having a frequency of,for example, 2.45 GHz generated by the microwave generator 39 propagateto the slot plate 31 through the waveguide pipe 37. Incidentally, thefrequency of the microwaves generated by the microwave generator 39 maybe 8.3 GHz, 1.98 GHz, or the like.

The waveguide pipe 37 includes the coaxial waveguide pipe 37 a thatextends upward from the opening 36 of the shield lid body 34, and therectangular waveguide pipe 37 b that is connected to the upper endportion of the coaxial waveguide pipe 37 a. The mode converter 40between the coaxial waveguide pipe 37 a and the rectangular waveguidepipe 37 b has a function of converting a TE mode of the microwavespropagating through the rectangular waveguide pipe 37 b into a TEM mode.The center electrically conductive member 41 extends in the center ofthe coaxial waveguide pipe 37 a, and the center electrically conductivemember 41 is connected at the lower end portion to the center of theslot plate 31. With this, the microwaves reach the wavelength shorteningmember 33 through a space that is inside the coaxial waveguide pipe 37 aand outside the center electrically conductive member 41, propagate in aradial direction in the wavelength shortening member 33 interposedbetween the shield lid body 34 and the slot plate 31, and furtherpropagate to the microwave permeable plate 28 through the microwaveemitting holes 32 formed in the slot plate 31. On the other hand, anouter electrically conductive member 37 c extends outside the coaxialwaveguide pipe 37 a, and the lower end portion of the outer electricallyconductive member 37 c is connected to and fixed onto the shield lidbody 34, which is electrically conductive.

The plasma etching apparatus 100 according to this embodiment isprovided with the second gas supplying portion 122 in addition to thefirst gas supplying portion 116 connected to the gas introducing member15. Specifically, the second gas supplying portion 122 includes the gaspassage 68 that is formed in order to go through the center electricallyconductive member 41 of the coaxial waveguide pipe 37 a, the slot plate31, and the microwave permeable plate 28 and thus to be in gaseouscommunication with the process chamber 101. Namely, in the shield lidbody 34, the gas passage 68 is defined by the center electricallyconductive member 41 of the coaxial waveguide pipe 37 a, which isinserted into the opening 36 of the shield lid body 34 and connected tothe slot plate 31.

The second gas supplying portion 122 in the middle of which anopen/close valve 70, a mass flow controller 71, and the like areprovided, is connected to the gas introducing inlet 69 formed at theupper end portion of the center electrically conductive member 41, and adesired gas can be supplied at a controlled flow rate as appropriate.

Each of the constituting parts of the microwave plasma processingapparatus 100 is connected to and controlled by a process controller 50to which a user interface 51 is connected, which is composed of akeyboard for a process supervisor to input commands or the like in orderto manage the microwave plasma processing apparatus 100, a display thatshows operations of the microwave plasma processing apparatus 100, orthe like.

In addition, a memory device 52, which stores a control program(software) for causing various processes to be performed in themicrowave plasma processing apparatus 100 under control of the processcontroller 50, and a process recipe including process condition data, orthe like, is connected to the process controller 50.

An arbitrary recipe is called out from the memory device 52 byinstruction or the like from the user interface 51, if necessary, andexecuted by the process controller 50, so that a desired process can beperformed under control of the process controller 50 in the microwaveplasma processing apparatus 100. In addition, the control program andthe recipe of the process conditions or the like may be stored in acomputer readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a hard disk, aflexible disk, a flash memory, or the like, and downloaded to the memorydevice 52 from the medium or through a dedicated line from anotherapparatus.

Next, a plasma etching method according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is described, with reference to FIGS. 2, 4A, 4B, and 5.

First, the wafer W is transferred by a transfer arm (not shown) into theprocess chamber 101 through the gate valve 26, placed on the uppersurface of the susceptor 105 (See FIG. 2) by moving lifter pins (notshown) upward/downward, and held by the electrostatic chuck 111.

On the upper surface of the wafer W (substrate 11), a patterned etchingmask 12 has already been formed (See FIG. 5( a). The etching mask 12 iscomposed of a SiO₂ film or a SiN film, and a width of grooves (trenches)is set to, for example, 65 nm or less. Incidentally, D1 and D2 indicatean area having a high pattern density in the etching mask 12, and I1 andI2 indicate an area having a low pattern density in the etching mask 12,in FIGS. 5( a) and 5(b).

In addition, when the susceptor is provided with a heating portion, thewafer W may be maintained at a predetermined process temperature by theheating portion.

A predetermined process pressure inside the process chamber 101 is setwithin a range of, for example, 0.01 to several Pa. An etching gas (forexample, HBr gas) and a plasma gas (for example, Ar gas) are supplied atcorresponding predetermined flow rates from the gas introducing member15 of the first gas supplying portion 116 and the gas passage 68 of thesecond gas supplying portion 122, respectively. In addition, the insideof the process chamber 101 is maintained at the predetermined pressureby the evacuation apparatus 24.

In addition, microwaves in the TE mode having a frequency of, forexample, 2.45 GHz are generated in the microwave generator 39, propagateto the matching circuit 38 and the rectangular waveguide pipe 37 b, andreach the mode converter 40, where the mode of the microwaves isconverted to the TEM mode. The microwaves in the TEM mode propagatethrough the coaxial waveguide pipe 37 a and reach the wavelengthshortening member 33 through the center electrically conductive member41 and the outer electrically conductive member 37 c. Here, thewavelength of the microwaves is shortened by the wavelength shorteningmember 33. The microwaves are introduced into a process space (plasmaspace) SP below the slot plate 31 through the microwave emitting holes32 of the slot plate 31 and then the microwave permeable plate 28. Withthis, the etching gas and the plasma gas are activated by the plasma inthe process space (plasma space) SP, and plasma etching is performed bythe activated etching gas.

In the plasma etching method according to this embodiment of the presentinvention, the bias electric power controlling portion 113 d controlsthe alternating current bias electric power of the alternating currentpower supplier 113 b so that a ratio of a time period during which thealternating current power supplier 113 b supplies alternating currentbias electric power to the susceptor 105 with respect to a total time ofthe time period during which the alternating current power supplier 113b supplies alternating current bias electric power to the susceptor 105and a time period during which the alternating current power supplier113 b limits the alternating current bias electric power supplied to thesusceptor 105 or stops supplying the alternating current bias electricpower becomes 0.5. In the following explanation, the time period duringwhich the alternating current power supplier 113 b supplies thealternating current bias electric power is referred to as ON time, andthe time period during which the alternating current power supplier 113b limits or stops the alternating current bias electric power isreferred to as OFF time.

Namely, the bias electric power controlling portion 113 d controls thealternating current power supplier 113 b so that a step of facilitatingetching the wafer W, wherein an alternating bias electric power P1(first supplying electric power) is supplied to the susceptor 105 fromthe alternating electric power source 113 b serving as the bias electricpower supplying portion during an ON time T1 (FIG. 4A), and a step ofimpeding etching the wafer W, wherein an alternating bias electric powerP2 (second supplying electric power) that is lower than the alternatingbias electric power P1 is supplied to the susceptor 105, or supplyingthe alternating bias electric power P1 is terminated during an OFF timeT2 (FIG. 4A), are alternately repeated. Such control is carried out sothat a duty ratio of the ON time T1 with respect to a total time (T1+T2)of the ON time T1 and the OFF time T2 is 0.5 or less. Namely, arelationship of T1 ≦T2 is held as shown in FIG. 4A.

Next, a plasma etching method carried out by using the plasma etchingapparatus according to this embodiment is explained.

According to the inventors' knowledge, a primary factor that causes aproblem of difficulties of yielding the same depth and profile in plasmaetching in a conventional STI process and a problem of sub-trench shapesthat may be formed in the bottom of the groove (trench) resides inadsorption of by-products, which are produced in the etching, on thesilicon substrate (semiconductor wafer). Therefore, a primary advantageof the plasma etching process according to this embodiment is broughtabout by sequentially evacuating the by-products in order to impede theby-products from being adsorbed on the silicon substrate (semiconductorwafer).

Specifically, the bias electric power controlling portion 113 d controlsthe alternating current power supplier 113 b so that the alternatingbias electric power P1 to the susceptor 105 during the ON time T1 shownin FIG. 4A. During this ON time T1, the etching process of the wafer Wis facilitated as shown FIG. 4B(a). In this case, the by-products Rproduced from the reaction of the etching gas with the substrate areincreased between a plasma space SP and the wafer W. Then, the biaselectric power controlling portion 113 d controls the alternatingcurrent power supplier 113 b so that the bias electric power controllingportion 113 d supplies the alternating electric bias electric power P2less than the alternating bias electric power P1 to the susceptor 105,or terminates the alternating bias electric power. During the OFF timeT2 , the etching process is impeded, as shown in FIG. 4B(b). Inaddition, the by-products R are reduced because of being evacuated bythe evacuation apparatus with the etching gas and the plasma gassupplied thereto. In a conventional continuous wave bias (CW bias) shownin FIG. 1, the by-products remaining un-evacuated in the plasma space SPare dissociated by plasma, turn into etching species (etchant), reachthe wafer W, and are adsorbed (deposited) on the wafer W. However,according to this embodiment, the by-products R are reduced during theOFF time T2 , and thus an amount of the adsorbed material can bereduced. Therefore, the etching can be carried out while the etchingrate and the sub-trench ratio are maintained constant, regardless of thepattern densities, and a center portion and a circumferential portion ofthe wafer W.

Namely, in order to reduce the by-products R, which are produced duringthe ON time T1 , during the OFF time T2, the duty ratio (T1/(T1+T2))needs to be a predetermined value or less. As a result of measurementsand evaluations described below, the above advantage is obtained whenthe duty ratio (T1 (T1+T2)) is 0.5 or less.

On the other hand, as long as the by-products R are not adsorbed ontothe silicon wafer (semiconductor wafer), there may be considered amethod of increasing an evacuation rate of the inside of the processchamber with increased supplying rates of the etching gas and the plasmagas, and a method of adding an oxygen system gas and/or a fluorinesystem gas to the etching gas such as HBr and Cl₂, thereby impedingadsorption of the by-products.

However, the method of increasing the evacuation rate of the inside ofthe process chamber with increased supplying rates of the etching gasand the plasma gas may be disadvantageous in that gas consumption may beincreased, the evacuation apparatus needs to be larger, and electricpower consumption may be increased, so that production costs ofsemiconductor devices and environmental burden are increased. Inaddition, the method of adding an oxygen system gas and/or a fluorinesystem gas to the etching gas such as HBr and C12 may be disadvantageousin that an amount of and the number of gases used are increased, so thatproduction costs of semiconductor devices and environmental burden areincreased.

Therefore, the plasma etching method and plasma etching apparatusaccording to embodiments of the present invention, the plasma etchingcan be realized that yields the same depth and profile regardless of theetching pattern densities, without increasing the amount of and thenumber of the gases used and increasing the evacuation rate and the flowrate of the etching gas.

(Duty Ratio Dependence)

Evaluation results of evaluation carried out about duty ratio dependenceby measuring a trench shape obtained through the plasma etching methodaccording to this embodiment of the present invention are explained withreference to FIGS. 6 through 9.

Etching conditions except for the duty ratio are as follows. The plasmagas is Ar; the etching gas is HBr; a flow rate ratio of Ar/HBr is850/300 (sccm); a pressure in the process chamber is 100 mTorr. Thealternating bias electric power is 200 W and zero W during the ON timeT1 and the OFF time T2, respectively. The substrate temperature is 60°C. Repetition frequency of alternately repeating the ON time T1 and theOFF time T2 is 10 Hz. Namely, the total time T1+T2 is 100 ms.

Here, the evaluation of the trench shape in the wafer W is carried outfor a center portion C and a circumferential portion E, which arecorresponding portions surrounded by dotted lines in FIG. 6. Inaddition, cross-sectional shapes of the wafer W in the center portion Cat the duty ratios of 0.5 and 0.7 are illustrated in FIGS. 7( a) and7(b). In FIGS. 7( a) and 7 (b) “D2” corresponds to the area D2 having ahigh pattern density in the etching mask shown in FIG. 5( b), and “I2”corresponds to the area I2 having a low pattern density in the etchingmask shown in FIG. 5( b). In addition, as shown in FIG. 7( b), asub-trench ratio Rst is defined as Rst=H1/H0, assuming that a depth ofthe groove (trench) at the edge portion of the bottom is H0 , and aheight difference between the center portion of the bottom, which israised in a convex shape, and the edge portion of the bottom in thegroove (trench). Additionally, a taper angle is an angle θ t formedbetween a planar surface linking the edge portion of the bottom and anedge of the opening of the groove (trench) and a horizontal surface.

With the sub-trench ratio Rst and the taper angle θ t defined as above,FIGS. 8A and 8B summarize the sub-trench shapes when the duty ratios arechanged in a range of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, and 1.0. Here, the dutyratio of 1.0 corresponds to continuous wave bias control (CW control)rather than the pulse wave bias control (PW control). FIGS. 8A(a) and8B(b) illustrate a duty ratio dependence of the sub-trench ratio in theareas of high and low pattern densities in the etching mask,respectively. FIGS. 8B(c) and 8B(d) illustrate a duty ratio dependenceof the taper angle in the areas of high and low pattern densities in theetching mask.

As shown in FIGS. 8A(a) and 8B(b), the sub-trench ratio becomes 0.05 orless, namely substantially zero in a duty ratio range of 0.5 or less,regardless of the pattern densities in the etching mask and the centerand the circumferential portions of the wafer W. In addition, as shownin FIGS. 8B(c) and 8B(d), the taper angle becomes 85° or more in a dutyratio range of 0.5 or less, and 86° or more, namely substantially 90°especially in the duty ratio range of 0.3 or more and 0.5 or less.

In addition, when compared with the CWs (continuous wave bias controlmodes) shown in FIGS. 8A(a) through 8B (d), the sub-trench ratio isdecreased and the taper angle is increased in the duty ratio range of0.5 or less, and especially in the duty ratio range of 0.3 or more and0.5 or less.

Moreover, the etching rates at the duty ratios of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7,0.9, and 1.0 are shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 9( a) illustrates a ratio of anetching rate Rd in the area having a high pattern density in the etchingmask with respect to an etching rage Ri in the area having a low patterndensity in the etching mask. FIG. 9( b) illustrates a ratio of anetching rate Rc in the center portion of the wafer W with respect to anetching rate Re in the circumferential portion of the wafer W.

As shown in FIGS. 9( a) and 9(b), the etching rates are substantiallythe same in the duty ratio range of 0.5 or less, regardless of thepattern densities in the etching mask and the center and thecircumferential portions of the wafer W.

From the foregoing, the sub-trench ratio and the taper angle can bemaintained substantially constant while the etching rate is maintainedsubstantially constant, in the center portion and the circumferentialportion of the wafer W, regardless of the pattern densities in theetching mask, by adjusting the duty ratio of the ON time T1 with respectto the total time T1+T2 to 0.5 or less.

(Repetition Frequency)

Next, a repetition frequency dependence of the trench shape is explainedwith reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B, when the plasma etching methodaccording to this embodiment of the present invention.

Etching conditions except for the repetition frequency are as follows.The plasma gas is Ar; the etching gas is HBr; a flow rate ratio ofAr/HBr is 850/300 (sccm); a pressure in the process chamber is 10 mTorr.The alternating bias electric power is 1800 W and 200 W during the ONtime T1 and the OFF time T2, respectively. The substrate temperature is60° C. Repetition frequency of alternately repeating the ON time T1 andthe OFF time T2 is 10 Hz.

Here, FIGS. 10A and 10B summarize the sub-trench shapes when therepetition frequency is changed at 1 Hz, 10 Hz, 100 Hz, and 200 Hz.FIGS. 10A(a) and 10A(b) illustrate repetition frequency dependences ofthe sub-trench ratio in the area having a high pattern density and inthe area having a low pattern density, respectively. FIGS. 10B(c) and10B(d) illustrate repetition frequency dependences of the taper angle inthe area having a high pattern density and in the area having a lowpattern density, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 10A(a) and 10A(b), the sub-trench ratio becomes 0.1 orless in a repetition frequency range of 1 Hz or more and 200 Hz or less,and 0.05 or less, namely substantially zero, especially in a repetitionfrequency range of 10 Hz and its vicinity, regardless of the patterndensities and the center and the circumferential portions of the waferW. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 10B(c) and 10B(d), the taper anglebecomes 85° or more in a repetition frequency range of 1 Hz or more and200 Hz or less, and 86° or more, namely substantially 90° in arepetition frequency of 10 Hz and its vicinity, regardless of thepattern densities and the center and the circumferential portions of thewafer W.

In addition, when compared with the duty ratio of 0.5 or more and theCWs (continuous wave bias control mode), which are shown in FIGS. 10A(a)through 10B(d), the sub-trench ratio is reduced and the taper angle isincreased, in a repetition frequency of 1 Hz or more and 200 Hz or less.

From the foregoing, the sub-trench ratio and the taper angle can bemaintained substantially constant while the etching rate is maintainedsubstantially constant, in the center portion and the circumferentialportion of the wafer W, regardless of the pattern densities in theetching mask, by adjusting the repetition frequency of alternatelyrepeating the ON time T1 and the OFF time T2 to 1 Hz or more and 200 Hzor less, more preferably to 10 Hz and its vicinity.

(Pressure Dependence)

Next, a pressure dependence of the trench shape is explained withreference to FIGS. 11 and 12, when the plasma etching method accordingto this embodiment of the present invention is employed.

Etching conditions except for the duty ratio are as follows. The plasmagas is Ar; the etching gas is HBr; and a flow rate ratio of Ar/HBr is850/300 (sccm). The alternating bias electric power is 200 W and zero Wduring the ON time T1 and the OFF time T2, respectively. The substratetemperature is 60° C. The duty ratio (T1/(T1+T2)) of the ON time T1 andthe OFF time T2 is 0.5. The repetition frequency of alternatelyrepeating the ON time T1 and the OFF time T2 is 10 Hz.

Here, FIG. 11 summarizes the pressure dependence of the trench shapewhen the pressure in the process chamber is changed in a range of 25mTorr or more and 100 mTorr or less. FIGS. 11( a) and 11(b) illustrate apressure dependence of the sub-trench ratio and the taper angle.Incidentally, FIGS. 11( a) and 11(b) also illustrate the pressuredependences in the case of CW (continuous wave) bias control, forcomparison.

As shown in FIG. 11 (a), the sub-trench ratio becomes 0.25 or less in apressure range of 25 mTorr or more and 100 mTorr or less, and thesub-trench ratio becomes smaller by the CW (continuous wave) biascontrol, regardless of the pattern densities and the center and thecircumferential portions of the wafer W. In addition, as shown in FIG.11( b), the taper angle becomes 84° or more in a pressure range of 25mTorr or more and 100 mTorr or less, and the taper angle becomes greaterby the CW (continuous wave) bias control, regardless of the patterndensities and the center and the circumferential portions of the waferW.

Next, an experiment carried out in order to examine a normalized sideetching width when the pressure is changed in a range of 10 mTorr ormore and 130 mTorr or less. FIG. 12( a) illustrates a cross-sectionalview of a trench in order to explain definition of the side etchingwidth. FIG. 12( b) illustrates a pressure dependence of a normalizedside etching width obtained by normalizing a side etching width B with awidth A of a wall between the trenches.

As shown in FIG. 12( b), the normalized side etching width becomes 0.3or more in a pressure range of 10 mTorr or more and 20 mTorr or less inthe process chamber, which indicates that a trench wall is relativelylargely indented, as shown in FIG. 12( a). It is thought that isotropicetching is facilitated in a lower pressure range so that the inner wallof the trench is etched, because etching gas molecules (or radicals)activated by plasma are less likely to lose their activity due to alonger mean free path.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12( b), the normalized side etchingwidth becomes 0.1 or less, namely substantially zero in a pressure rangeof 40 mTorr or more and 130 mTorr or less in the process chamber. Thisis because the etching gas molecules (and/or radicals) activated byplasma may moderately lose activity because of relatively short meanfree path in a higher pressure range, and thus isotropic etching iscarried out without laterally etching the side wall of the trench.Therefore, when the side etching width is considered as a criterion forthe trench shape, the pressure is preferably set to 40 mTorr or more and130 mTorr or less in order to form the trench having a more preferableshape.

In addition, when the pressure is set to be relatively higher, forexample, 70 mTorr or more, an electron temperature is sufficientlyreduced over the wafer, a density of the active radicals is reduced, andthe by-products are impeded from being re-dissociated, therebypreventing the etching profile from being degraded during the OFF time,and the by-products from being adsorbed.

Incidentally, no pressure dependence is observed in the sub-trench ratioand the taper angle in a pressure range of 100 mTorr or more, and thesub-trench ratio and the taper angle have substantially the same valuesas the sub-trench ratio and the taper angle at the pressure of 100mTorr, respectively, although not shown. This is thought to be becausethe plasma can stably exist in a pressure range of 100 mTorr, or even inseveral Torr, for example. In addition, no pressure dependence isobserved in the etching width in a pressure range of 130 mTorr or morein the process chamber, and the etching width has substantially the samevalue as the etching width at 30 mTorr. This is thought to be due tothat, while the side etching width becomes zero because the activatedetching gas molecules moderately lose activity because of a relativelyshort mean free path, the plasma can stably exist even at several Torr,for example. Therefore, the pressure in the process chamber may be 40mTorr or more, preferably 70 mTorr or more, and more preferably 70 mTorror more and 130 mTorr or less.

In addition, the microwave electric power emitted from the RLSA issupplied into the process chamber to which the etching gas and theplasma gas are supplied, thereby carrying out the etching in the plasmaetching system according to this embodiment. The RLSA microwave plasmasystem can generate plasma in a wider pressure range, when compared withother plasma excitation systems such as an ECR plasma system, aCapacitively Coupled Plasma (CCP) plasma system, and the like.Therefore, according to the plasma etching method of this embodiment,the etching process can be more stably carried out in a pressure rangeof 40 mTorr or more. With this, electric power consumption of theevacuation apparatus 24 serving as the evacuation portion and thecontrol portion can be reduced.

From the foregoing, the sub-trench ratio and the taper angle aremaintained substantially constant and the side etching width can beclose to zero in the center and the circumferential portions of thewafer W, regardless of the pattern densities in the etching mask bysetting the pressure to be 40 mTorr or more, preferably 70 mTorr ormore, and more preferably 70 mTorr or more and 130 mTorr or less, in theplasma etching method according to this embodiment of the presentinvention.

(Gas Flow Rate Dependence)

Next, a dependence of the trench shape on a gas flow rate of the plasmagas and the etching gas when the plasma etching method according to thisembodiment is explained with reference to FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view for explaining the plasma etching methodaccording to this embodiment, and illustrates the gas flow ratedependence of the trench shape after the etching process.

Etching conditions except for the pressure in the process chamber are asfollows. The plasma gas is Ar and the etching gas is HBr. A pressure inthe process chamber is 100 mTorr. The alternating bias electric power is200 W and zero W during the ON time T1 and the OFF time T2,respectively. The substrate temperature is 60° C. The duty ratio(T1/(T1+T2)) of the ON time T1 and the OFF time T2 is 0.5. Repetitionfrequency of alternately repeating the ON time T1 and the OFF time T2 is10 Hz.

Here, FIG. 13 illustrates the flow rate dependence of the trench shapeswhen the total flow rate is changed in a range of 575 sccm(Ar/HBr=425/150 sccm), 1150 sccm (Ar/HBr=850/300 sccm), 2300 sccm(Ar/HBr=1700/600 sccm), while the flow rate ratio of Ar/HBr ismaintained constant. FIGS. 13( a) and 13(b) illustrate the pressuredependence of the sub-trench ratio and the taper angle, respectively.Incidentally, FIGS. 13( a) and 13(b) also illustrate the flow ratedependence in the case of the CW (continuous wave) bias control, forcomparison.

As shown in FIG. 13( a), the sub-trench ratio becomes 0.5 or less in atotal flow range of 575 sccm or more and 2300 sccm or less, and 0.05 orless and less than that obtained by the CW (continuous wave) controlespecially at the total flow rate range of 1150 sccm and its vicinity,regardless of the etching pattern densities and the center and thecircumferential portions of the wafer W. In addition, as shown in FIG.13( b), the taper angle becomes 80° or more in the total flow range of575 sccm or more and 2300 sccm or less, and 84° or more, namelysubstantially 90°, and greater than that obtained by the CW (continuouswave) control, regardless of the etching pattern densities and thecenter and the circumferential portions of the wafer W.

From the foregoing, the sub-trench ratio and the taper angle can bemaintained substantially constant regardless of the etching patterndensities and the center and the circumferential portions of the waferW, by setting the flow rate of the plasma gas (Ar gas) to 425 sccm ormore and 1700 sccm or less and the flow rate of the etching gas (HBrgas) to 150 sccm or more and 600 sccm or less, more preferably the flowrate of the plasma gas (Ar gas) to 850 sccm and its vicinity and theflow rate of the etching gas (HBr) gas to 300 sccm and its vicinity, inthe plasma etching method according to this embodiment.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, the present invention is not limited to the specificembodiments, but may be variously modified or altered within the scopeof the accompanying claims.

Incidentally, an embodiment of the present invention may be described asfollows.

Namely, one aspect of the present invention provides a plasma etchingmethod comprising:

-   -   placing an object to be processed on a susceptor provided in a        process chamber that may be maintained at a reduced pressure,        the process chamber being provided with a microwave permeable        plate made of a dielectric material that allows microwaves to        pass therethrough, a slot plate that is made of a conductive        material and has plural through holes, the slot plate being        arranged above the microwave permeable plate, and a dielectric        plate that is made of a dielectric material and arranged above        the slot plate;    -   supplying an etching gas into the process chamber;    -   maintaining an inside of the process chamber at a predetermined        pressure;    -   introducing microwaves having a predetermined frequency into the        process chamber through the electric plate, the slot plate, and        the microwave permeable plate in this order, thereby generating        plasma in the process chamber; and    -   supplying an alternating bias to the susceptor by repeating a        first time period during which the alternating bias is supplied        to the susceptor at a first electric power and a second time        period during which the alternating bias is supplied to the        susceptor at a second electric power that is less than the first        electric power so that a ratio of the first time period with        respect to a total time period of the first time period and the        second time period falls within a range from 0.1 through 0.5.

In addition, the first time period and the second time period arerepeated at a repetition frequency in a range from 1 Hz through 200 Hzin the step of supplying the alternating bias in the plasma etchingmethod according to the above aspect.

In addition, the second electric power may be zero in the step ofsupplying the alternating bias in the plasma etching method according tothe above aspects.

Moreover, the predetermined pressure is preferably 40 mTorr or more, andmore preferably 70 mTorr in the plasma etching method according to theabove aspects.

Furthermore, the plasma etching method according to the above aspectsmay include a step of supplying a plasma gas. In this case, a flow rateof the plasma gas is preferably 1700 sccm or less. In addition, a flowrate of the etching gas is 600 sccm or less.

Although the above embodiments have been explained taking an example ofthe semiconductor wafer serving as an object to be processed, thepresent invention is not limited to this, but may be applied to LCDsubstrates, glass substrates, ceramic substrates, and the like.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A plasma etching apparatus comprising: aprocess chamber whose inside is evacuatable to vacuum and that has anopenable ceiling portion; a susceptor on which an object to be processedis placed, the susceptor being provided in the process chamber; amicrowave permeable plate that is made of a dielectric material thatallows microwaves to pass therethrough and is attached to an opening ofthe ceiling portion in an air-tight manner; a microwave supplyingportion including a microwave generation apparatus that generatesmicrowaves of a predetermined frequency, a mode converter that isconnected to the microwave generation apparatus via a rectangularwaveguide pipe and a matching circuit and converts an oscillation modeof the generated microwaves into a predetermined mode, a coaxialwaveguide pipe that allows the microwaves having the predetermined modeto propagate therein, an electrically conductive chassis that isconnected to an outer electrical conductive body of the coaxialwaveguide pipe, a slot plate that is made of a conductive material andhas plural through holes, wherein the slot plate is arranged in an uppersurface of the microwave permeable plate and a center electricallyconductive material is connected to a center portion of the slot plate,and a dielectric plate that is made of a dielectric material andarranged between the slot plate and the chassis; a gas supplying portionthat supplies a process gas to the process chamber; an evacuationportion that maintains the inside of the process chamber at apredetermined pressure; a bias electric power supplying portion thatsupplies an alternating bias electric power to the susceptor; and analternating bias electric power control portion that controls thealternating bias electric power, wherein the alternating bias electricpower control portion controls the alternating bias electric power sothat supplying and disconnecting the alternating bias electric power tothe susceptor are repeated to allow a ratio of a time period ofsupplying the alternating bias electric power with respect to a totaltime period of supplying the alternating bias electric power anddisconnecting the alternating bias electric power to be 0.1 or more and0.5 or less.
 2. The plasma etching apparatus recited in claim 1, whereinrepetition frequency of alternately repeating supplying anddisconnecting the alternating bias electric power by the alternatingbias electric power control portion is 1 Hz or more and 200 Hz or less.3. The plasma etching apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the pressurein the process chamber is 40 mTorr or more.
 4. The plasma etchingapparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure in the processchamber is 70 mTorr or more.
 5. The plasma etching apparatus recited inclaim 1, wherein a frequency of the alternating bias electric power is13.56 MHz.